Triple talaq a political challenge for Congress

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

With the government stating its intent to bring forth the Bill replacing ordinance on triple talaq for passage, the focus on securing parliamentary nod will be on the ruling coalition managing its numbers, but the Congress too faces a dilemma — vote decisively or not.

Though the Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to end on July 26, a plan is in the works to extend it by at least three days till July 31 as the government wants to legislate on the Bill, and not re-promulgate the ordinance as it did during the Narendra Modi-led NDA-1 regime.

The last time the government got the Lok Sabha pass the Bill was in December 2018 amid walkout by the Congress, Trinamool and Nationalist Congress Party, while the Biju Janata Dal opposed it. On the ruling coalition side, the Janata Dal (United) is against the Bill, while coalition supporter AIADMK too was against it. The Bill could not clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle.

While BJP parliamentary managers will need to work out with allies and supporters before the Bill reaches the Rajya Sabha, it is the Congress that needs to have clarity on what it should do. Oppose the legislation, which was the party stand, including on the ground of criminality on the husband for uttering the word thrice, or stage a walkout, which it did in December.

Unlike the last Lok Sabha, there is a major change in scenario in the current House. Congress’ outgoing president Rahul Gandhi represents Wayanad, a constituency consisting of a predominant minority community.

In fact, his decision to contest from the seat led to the BJP leadership attacking Gandhi during the polls for abandoning Amethi for a minority-dominated safe seat.

There is a strong sentiment among the MPs from Kerala against the Bill and even the RSP, which has support of the Congress in the state, cannot be seen supporting the Bill. Will Congress in general and Gandhi in particular be able to take a different stand and give a handle to both BJP and Left?

Expectations and pressure of the constituents would be on the Wayanad MP amid indications that there are some in the Congress who are not averse to the Bill even as the party leadership did temple visits during the polls to alter its pro-minority image.